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Definition of Culdee in English:

Culdee

Pronunciation: /ˌkəlˈdē//ˈkəlˌdē/

noun

An Irish or Scottish monk of the 8th to 12th centuries, living as a recluse usually in a group of thirteen (on the analogy of Jesus Christ and his Apostles). The tradition ceased as the Celtic Church was brought under Roman Catholic rule.

‘The first was comprehensively Romanized under the Canmores, yet it retained one important institution in the Céli Dé, or Culdees.’

‘To the north of my study lie cliff-caves reputed to have been inhabited by eighth-century Christian hermits - the Culdees (Celide: ‘Friends of God’).’

‘Over the following 300 years, our separate Scottish kingdom protected many who maintained the Celtic or Culdee customs.’

Origin

Late Middle English: from medieval Latin culdeus, alteration, influenced by Latin cultores Dei worshipers of God of kelledei (plural, found in early Scottish records), from Old Irish céle dé, literally companion of God.